Universal joint.



K. F. RANGER.

UNIVERSAL JUINT.

APPLICATION FILED Nov. I4. 19u.

l ,27 l l c. Patented. July 9, 1918.

51mm wboz L F. RANGER, 0F DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

UNIVERSAL JOINT.

Application led November 14, 1917.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, KARL F; RANGER, a citizen of the United States, and residing at Detroit, in the county of Wayne and State of Michigan, have invented a new and mproved Universal Joint, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention, which is an improvement on that disclosed and claimed in my application for United States patent Serial Number 96,475, filed May 10, 1916, relates to universal joints, its object being to render the parts more easy to manufacture and assemble.

To this end it consists in a joint of the cross type wherein there is interposed between one of the main members and the cross a split element comprising ears that receive corresponding alined -journals on the cross, and which are themselves held in place on said main memberl by a ring-like confining member. It also consists in a main member f having a projection of substantially rectangular or non-circular cross-section over which the parts of the split element fit and whereby stress is transmitted either from or to said main member. The invention further consists in a joint of the character set forth wherein the ring-like `confining member is a part of a casing whereby the cross and associated elements are concealed. The invention also consists in the details of construction shown, described and claimed. f

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a longitudif nal section showing a preferred embodiment. Figs. 2 and 3 are sections on the lines 2-2 and 3-3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the integral parts of the cross.

1 and 2 indicate the main members of the joint, the former being provided with a flange 3 having a flat face 4; the member 1 also has a projection 5 within the limits of said face. While the shape of the projection may vary to a considerable extent, it is, in any event, non-circular, and preferably has two pairs of parallel sides 6 and 8 that merge into one another along fillets 9, Fig. 2. By making the projection in this shape a large effective stress transmitting surface is secured between the main member and the divided element (hereinafter described) and between said element and the cross, and the minimum radial cross-sectional area of the parts of the divided element is not reduced to an undesirable extent.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July, 1918.

Serial No. 201,896.

Fitting over the projection 5 and conforming closely to the surfaces 6 and 8 thereof are the halves 10--11 of said divided element, each of the halves including an ear 12. rl`hose surfaces 14 of the ears which are nearest each other lie, yfor the most part at least, in the same plane as the corresponding face 6, so that a single machining operation suffices-the fillets or ribs 15 at the edges may be left, however, i-f desired. In manufacture, the element 10-11 is preferably formed in one piece, and sawed through radially as indicated at 16 after the surfaces 14 and the surfaces which coperate with the faces 8 are finished.

The cross consists of two which appears in Fig. 4. The arms 18 of this member are preferably formed with the integral journals 19, at the base of which are the shoulders 20 that bear upon the surfaces 14. The cross member is bored through centrally of its other arms 21 at 22 to receive the second cross member orshaft 23 (Fig. 3) of the same diameter as the journals 19; and the ends of the shaft project from the shoulders 24 (which correspond in size and shape to the shoulders 20) for distances equal to the length of the journals 19. When the joint is assembled, the journals 19 are received in sockets formed in the ears 12, and the ends of the shaft 23 are likewise received in sockets formed in the ears 25 on the spherical head 26 of the second main member 2, bushings 28 being interposed in each case. A casing having a substantially spherical end portion 2S) that eX- tends around the head 26 is shouldered near its opposite end at 30 and terminates in a cylindrical barrel or flange 31 which fits closely over the cylindrical flange 3 and is internally threaded to receive the nut 32. When the nut is tightened` the shoulder draws the divided element up tight against the face 4, and the cylindrical flange prevents the parts of the element from spreading apart.

It will be observed that the ears 12 and one of the ears 25 are continuous over the sockets. The other ear is provided with a screw plug 33 which is inserted through a hole in the casing. A. cross pin 34, which is driven in through a hole 35 (Fig. 4) may serve to retain the members of the cross in fixed relation to eachl other, although any other suitable means may be employed. It

members, one of ing,

is also evident that, by providing the arms of the cross with vcommunicating passages 36, a storage chamber for lubricant is formed. Therefore it is not necessary that `the casing be tight upon the head 26, in fact, all except the ange .or barrel 31 and the shoulder 3 0 may be omitted. However, in the,embod1 ment shown, the spherical end of theJ member 29"-30-31 is covered by a spherical casing member 38 (packing 39 being interposed) which is slidable on the member 2 and presses against the main casing member 1n a manner common to such constructions.

The casing can be filled With heavy lubricant, the overlapping relation of the ring 31 to the ends of the slots 16 preventmg its esca e.

The construction may be modified withln considerable limits without departing from the spirit of the inventionand I do not wish, therefore, to be limited except as Indicated by the'subjoined claims.

1. In a universal joint, a main member having integral therewith a projection have ing parallel sides, a cross, a divided element fitting over the endsof two arms of the cross to form a bearing therefor, each part of the divided element having parallel in ner surfaces conforming to the parallel Sides of the projection, means for preventing the parts of the divided element from spreadand a `second main member pivoted to the cross. j

2. A universal joint comprising a first main member and a second main member, a cross pivotally connected to the rst main member, a divided element interposed between said cross and the second main member and pivotally connected to the cross, said second main member having a projection thereon of non-circular cross-section over which the divided element fits, and a ring-like retaining member extending around the divided element to keep the parts thereof from spreading.

3. In a universal joint, a main member rovided with a head having a ring-like sur ace in a plane at right angles to the length of said member, said member also having a projection of. non-circular cross-section arranged substantially centrally of said surface', a shouldered divided element. fitting over said projection and against said sur- 55 f ace, an annular threaded member extending around the divided element and the .head and engaging the shoulder on the divided element, and an annular nut engaging said head and threaded into the threaded member whereby the parts of the divided element are drawn up against the ring-like surface and are also prevented from spreading.

4. A universal joint including a main member having integral therewith a rojection having two pairs of parallel sides at closely to the outer surface of Athe right angles to each other, a cross including a pair of oppositely disposed arms having shoulders, a divided element fitting over the ends of said arms to form bearingstherefor,- each part of said divided element including a pair of inner surfaces conforming to and of about half of the length of one pair of the parallel sides of the projection, each part of the divided element also including another inner surface that conforms toand lies in the same plane With one of the other parallel sides of the projection, said last named inner surfaces being extended to form thrust bearings for the corresponding shoulders, and means for retaining the divided section on the main member.

5. A universal joint comprising a main member having a projection, two sides of which are parallel, a cross including a pair of oppositely disposed arms having shoulders, a divided element fitting over the ends of said arms to form bearings therefor, each part of the divided element including a plane surface which conforms to one of the parallel sides of the projection and is extended to form a thrust bearing for the cor# responding shoulder, means for preventing the parts of the l divided element from spreading away from one another and for securing said parts on the main member, and a second mainmember pivoted to the cross. 6. A universal joint comprising a first main member having a cylindrical flange and also having a projection of non-circular cross-section, a cross, a second main member pivoted to the cross and having a spherical outer surface, a divided element fitting over two arms ofthe cross and overv said projection toform bearings for the cross, a casing conforming to the spherical surface of the second mainmember and inclsing the cross and the divided element, said casing fitting divided element to prevent the parts thereof from spreading.

7. A universal joint comprising a cylindrical flange having integral therewith a, centrally arranged rojection surrounded by a flat surface, said) projection being noncircular in cross-section, a cross, a divided section conforming to the peripheral surface of the projection, .and forming bearings for j the cross, and combined means for drawing the parts ofthe section against the fiat surface and preventing -them from spreading apart diametrically of the flange.

8. A universal joint comprising a cylin-v member passing around the periphery of the fiange and closing the ends of the spaces between the sections.

9. A universal joint comprising a first main member having a cylindrical flange and also having a projection of non-circular cross-section, a cross, a second main member pivoted to the cross surface, a divided element conforming to the periphery of the projection and forming bearing for one pair of arms of the cross, the parts of the cross being spaced from each other, a casing includlng an annular portion passingfaround the periphery of the iange and closing the ends of the spaces between the sections, said casing having a spherical end embracing the end of the second main member, said casing aso including a second member having a spherical portion in sealing engagement with said spherical end.

KARL F. RANGER. 

